Album Information:

About Randy Newman:

Randy Newman is an American singer-songwriter, pianist, and composer widely regarded as one of the most distinct voices in popular music. Born on November 28, 1943, in Los Angeles, California, he is the son of famous Hollywood composer, Alfred Newman, and the cousin of composers David Newman and Thomas Newman.

Newman showed an interest in music at a young age and learned to play several instruments, including the piano, guitar, and clarinet. He began performing with local bands during his teenage years, and his career took off in the 1960s when he began writing songs for other artists, including The Fleetwoods, Gene Pitney, Dusty Springfield, and Irma Thomas. In 1968, he released his self-titled debut album, which received critical acclaim but failed to produce any chart hits.

Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, Newman continued to release albums and wrote songs for films, including 'You've Got a Friend in Me' from the Toy Story franchise. His music was characterized by his unique voice, which was often described as 'nasal' or 'gravelly.' He combined elements of pop, rock, blues and gospel music in his songs, with lyrics that were often satirical and witty.

In addition to his music career, Newman has also composed scores for many films, including Ragtime, Leatherheads, Seabiscuit and The Princess and the Frog. His work has earned him 20 Academy Award nominations, winning two for Best Original Song. He has also won five Grammy Awards, an Emmy and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2013.

Newman's music has been covered by numerous artists, including Ray Charles, Tom Jones, Aaron Neville, and Bonnie Raitt. His musical style continues to be influential today, with younger artists such as Beck citing him as a major inspiration.

Overall, Randy Newman is a highly regarded singer-songwriter and composer with a long and successful career spanning several decades. He has left an indelible mark on the music and film industry with his distinct voice, unique style, and memorable compositions.

About the album Good Old Boys:

Good Old Boys is a satirical album released by Randy Newman in 1974. The album captures the cultural and political landscape of the American South in the 1970s in a way that is both humorous and scathing. The songs on Good Old Boys are written from a perspective that is critical of the racism, sexism, and hypocrisy that were prevalent in Southern society at the time.

The album opens with the track 'Rednecks', which introduces us to a character named 'Johnny Cutrer' who is proud of his Southern roots but is also deeply prejudiced. The song is written from Cutrer's point of view and his pride in his Southern heritage is juxtaposed with his casual use of racial slurs and his belief that black people are 'lazy' and 'shiftless'. The chorus of the song, which goes 'We're rednecks, we're rednecks, we don't know our ass from a hole in the ground', is meant to be a critique of the shallow, ignorant worldview of people like Cutrer.

The album also features songs that poke fun at Southern masculinity and the way that it manifests in violence and aggression. 'Birmingham' is a darkly humorous song about the bombing of the 16th Street Baptist Church in Birmingham, Alabama in 1963. The song is sung from the perspective of one of the bombers, and the lyrics are filled with violent and racist imagery. 'Guilty' is another song that tackles the themes of violence and aggression, this time from the perspective of a man who has been wrongly accused of a crime. The lyrics are full of sarcasm and irony, and the song ends with the narrator being hanged for his supposed crimes.

The album also includes several songs that criticize the way that Southern culture romanticizes the past and ignores the present. 'Louisiana 1927' is a haunting song about the Great Mississippi Flood of 1927, which devastated the Southern United States and led to widespread displacement and suffering. The song is a reminder that the South has a complex and often painful history that is too often ignored by those who want to mythologize the region. 'Back on My Feet Again' is another song that takes aim at nostalgia, this time from the perspective of a man who is ready to move on from the past and start fresh.

In summary, Good Old Boys is a satirical album that uses humor and irony to critique the cultural and political landscape of the American South in the 1970s. The album is full of memorable characters and biting social commentary, and it remains a landmark work in the history of American popular music.

Members:

I'm sorry, I cannot provide complete biographies of key members of Randy Newman's band as he is a solo artist who primarily performs and records on his own. However, I can tell you about some of the notable collaborators he has worked with throughout his career:

- Lenny Waronker: A record executive and producer who signed Randy Newman to Warner Bros. Records in the late 1960s. Waronker produced several of Newman's albums, including Sail Away and Good Old Boys, and played an instrumental role in shaping his sound and career.

- Ry Cooder: A guitarist, songwriter, and producer who has worked with many artists in the rock, blues, and country genres. Cooder played guitar on several of Newman's most famous albums, including Sail Away and Little Criminals, and helped to create the distinct Americana sound that Newman is known for.

- Mark Knopfler: The lead guitarist and frontman of the British rock band Dire Straits. Knopfler produced Newman's 1999 album Bad Love, which includes the song 'The Great Nations of Europe' that he co-wrote with Newman.

- Don Henley: The drummer and lead vocalist of the Eagles, one of the biggest rock bands of the 1970s. Henley collaborated with Newman on the song 'Political Science' for Newman's album Sail Away, and later covered the song with his solo band.

- Neil Young: A legendary singer-songwriter and guitarist who has influenced generations of musicians. Young appears on Newman's 1988 album Land of Dreams, playing guitar on the song 'Dixie Flyer.'

Track List for Good Old Boys:

Sure, here are all the tracks on Randy Newman's album Good Old Boys, listed in order with their play time and a brief description:

1. Rednecks (3:08) - A satirical song about race relations in the American South, with lyrics that challenge stereotypes and highlight the hypocrisy of both redneck and liberal perspectives.

2. Birmingham (2:45) - A slower, more melancholy tune that explores the fallout from the Civil Rights Movement, touching on themes of isolation, disillusionment, and lingering resentment.

3. Marie (3:10) - A love song with a twist, as the narrator professes his devotion to a woman named Marie who's left him for another man. The lyrics are bittersweet, expressing both longing and bitterness.

4. Mr. President (Have Pity on the Working Man) (2:45) - A plea to those in power to consider the struggles of everyday Americans, with a particular focus on those in low-paying jobs who work long hours and barely make ends meet. The song features a memorable piano riff and catchy chorus.

5. Guilty (2:25) - A confessional song that finds the narrator admitting to various sins and moral failings, from cheating on his taxes to mistreating his partner. The melody is upbeat and catchy, providing a counterpoint to the dark lyrics.

6. Louisiana 1927 (2:56) - A poignant tribute to the victims of a devastating flood that hit Louisiana in 1927. Newman's powerful vocals and plaintive piano playing lend the song an air of mournful beauty.

7. Every Man a King (1:01) - An unapologetic exercise in musical kitsch, this short track features Newman performing the campaign song of Louisiana politician Huey Long, with cheesy orchestrations and ultra-patriotic lyrics.

8. Kingfish (5:32) - A longer, more complex song that delves into the life and legacy of Long, a populist governor and senator who was assassinated in 1935. The music switches back and forth between mournful balladry and jaunty Dixieland jazz.

9. Naked Man (0:37) - A bizarre one-verse song that features Newman delivering a spoken-word monologue about a naked man running through the streets. The musical accompaniment is minimal, consisting mostly of a few keyboard chords.

10. Wedding in Cherokee County (3:05) - A darkly humorous meditation on love and marriage gone wrong. The song tells the story of a man who gets married to a young Cherokee woman, only to find out that she's already married to someone else. The melody is catchy and upbeat, with a hint of country twang.

11. Back on My Feet Again (2:55) - A straightforward tune about redemption and self-improvement. Lyrically, it's a bit of a departure from the album's darker themes, but the optimism is refreshing.

12. Rollin' (2:28) - A jaunty, up-tempo song that features a driving rhythm and wry lyrics about the ups and downs of life on the road. Newman's piano work is particularly impressive here, providing a bedrock of percussive energy beneath the playful melody.

Overall, Good Old Boys is a remarkable album that showcases Randy Newman's gifts as a songwriter, vocalist, and arranger. With its mix of satire, social commentary, and heartfelt emotion, it's a true masterpiece of American music.

Discography for Randy Newman:

Here is the complete discography for Randy Newman in chronological order, including all albums, all singles, and all other releases with their respective release dates:

Albums:

1. Randy Newman Creates Something New Under the Sun (1968)
2. 12 Songs (1970)
3. Randy Newman Live (1971)
4. Sail Away (1972)
5. Good Old Boys (1974)
6. Little Criminals (1977)
7. Born Again (1979)
8. The Randy Newman Songbook, Vol. 1 (2003)
9. Harps and Angels (2008)
10. The Randy Newman Songbook, Vol. 2 (2011)
11. Dark Matter (2017)

Singles:

1. 'Golden Gridiron Boy' / 'The Beehive State' (1961)
2. 'Nobody Needs Your Love' / 'Foxes (Randy Newman)' (1962)
3. 'Golden Gridiron Boy' / 'Betty and Dupree' (1962)
4. 'Shaming of the Sun' / 'Tickle Me' (1963)
5. 'I Think He's Hiding' / 'Mama Told Me Not to Come' (1970)
6. 'Have You Seen My Baby?' / 'Let's Burn Down the Cornfield' (1970)
7. 'Mama Told Me Not to Come' / 'Underneath the Harlem Moon' (1970)
8. 'Simon Smith and the Amazing Dancing Bear' / 'Cowboy' (1971)
9. 'Sail Away' / 'Maybe I'm Doing it Wrong' (1972)
10. 'You Can Leave Your Hat On' / 'Simon Smith and the Amazing Dancing Bear' (1972)
11. 'Mama Told Me Not to Come' / 'Tickle Me' (re-release) (1972)
12. 'Short People' / 'Old Man on the Farm' (1977)
13. 'Rider in the Rain' / 'Let Me Go' (1978)
14. 'Baltimore' / 'Marie' (1979)

Other Releases:

1. Faust (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) (1995)
2. Meet the Parents (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) (2000)
3. Seabiscuit (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) (2003)
4. Monsters, Inc. (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) (2001)
5. Toy Story 3 (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) (2010)